Ottawa Senators vs Florida Panthers Picks and Predictions April 5th 2025

Ottawa Senators vs Florida Panthers April 5th 2025

Don’t miss out on the NHL showdown between the Panthers and Senators. The game is starting at 2:00 ET on ESPN+, and it’s hosted by the Senators at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON. Get ready to place your bets! The Panthers are favored by -1.5 in this Atlantic division showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 5.5 goals.

Florida vs. Ottawa Key Information

• Teams: Panthers at Senators
• Where: Canadian Tire Centre Ottawa
• Date: Saturday, April 5th
• Betting Odds FLA -127 | OTT +106 O/U 5.5

The Panthers Can Win If…

Florida’s 4-2 win over the Stars moved them to 44-27-4 this season. The Panthers covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 6 goals fell just short of the 6.5 line.

All four of Florida’s goals came from different players, and they took the lead for good with a goal at 2:32 in the 3rd period. Sam Reinhart added an empty-netter with 1:00 left to secure the victory.

Carolina’s offense was held to just 25 shots on goal in their 4-2 win over the Stars. The Panthers scored their first goal at 5:15 in the first period, and added another at 11:13 in the second. A.J. Greer scored his first goal of the season, while Sam Reinhart netted his 10th, an empty-netter with 1:00 left in the game.

Reinhart also picked up his 11th assist on Evan Rodrigues’ third goal of the year. Tomás Nosek recorded his first assist of the season on Greer’s goal. Carolina finished with 16 giveaways.

Defensively, the Panthers will look to build on their performance against the Stars, where they gave up two goals. Spencer Knight made 23 saves with a 92% save percentage. The Panthers’ defense also tallied 8 takeaways, 22 hits, and 16 blocks. Both goals they allowed came in the 2nd period, with one being a power-play goal.

• The Panthers have gone 0-3 over their last three regular season games. In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 1-2 and an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Florida has put together a record of 4-6 in their last ten games (regular season). Across these games, their puck line record was just 1-9, while posting an over-under record of 4-6.

The Senators Can Win If…

Ottawa improved to 40-29-6 with a 3-0 road win over the Kraken. The Senators, favored by -1.5 goals, covered the puck line. The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 3 fell well short.

All three of Ottawa’s goals came from different players. Adam Gaudette opened the scoring in the first period, followed by goals from Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle. The Senators’ defense held Seattle scoreless, with Anton Forsberg stopping all 22 shots he faced.

In their 3-0 win over Seattle, the Senators’ offense was highlighted by Tim Stützle’s 6th goal of the season, which came on an empty net at 17:46 in the third period. Brady Tkachuk added his 7th goal, while Adam Gaudette opened the scoring with his 7th goal at 14:32 in the first period.

Ottawa took 23 shots on goal and recorded 11 giveaways. The Senators were held scoreless on power plays and did not register any shorthanded goals.

Defensively, the Senators were rock solid, allowing 0 goals and just 22 shots on goal from the Kraken. Anton Forsberg made 22 saves, finishing with a 100% save percentage. The Senators’ defense also added 14 blocks, 25 hits, and 2 takeaways.

• Ottawa has put together a record of 1-2 in their last three games (regular season). In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 1-2 and an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Senators have gone 5-5 straight up. This includes going 3-7 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 3-5-2.

The Lean

If you’re looking for a moneyline pick, my choice is the Panthers to take down the Senators on the road. With the moneyline currently at -127, I’m placing my bet on the Panthers straight-up.

My recommended pick for the puck line is to take the Senators to cover. Even if the Panthers win straight-up, this one should be close throughout and the Senators should cover the puck line.

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 5.5 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

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Marchand, Panthers Still Searching for Chemistry Ahead of Clash with Senators

Brad Marchand is still adjusting to life in a Florida Panthers uniform, and while the numbers haven’t come yet, the defending Stanley Cup champions remain confident their newest acquisition will find his stride—just in time for another deep postseason push.

Marchand has tallied just one assist in four games since being traded from Boston, but Florida (44-27-4, 92 points) is taking the long view with the 36-year-old veteran, who played a central role in Boston’s 2011 Stanley Cup win and brings invaluable experience.

“We’re going to be a little patient with it… I’m going to try to play him with as many people,”

– Panthers head coach Paul Maurice on finding the right linemates for Marchand.

Marchand’s ice time has also dipped since the trade, down from 18:26 per game in Boston to 16:43 in Florida. Maurice is clearly focused on preservation and integration ahead of the postseason. The Panthers have lost three straight (0-2-1), including a narrow 3-2 defeat to Toronto on Wednesday. Captain Aleksander Barkov missed that game with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

Despite the recent skid, there’s no panic in the locker room.

“It’s playoff hockey at this time of the year… It’s always one-goal games it seems like. We’ll continue to fight and build,”

– Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues on the team’s mindset.

Meanwhile, the Ottawa Senators (40-29-6, 86 points) snapped a two-game slide of their own with a gritty 2-1 win over Tampa Bay on Thursday. Linus Ullmark was sensational between the pipes, making 31 saves, including a pair of game-saving stops in the third period.

“It’s fun playing the best in the world… You have that little extra motivation,”

– Senators goalie Linus Ullmark on thriving in high-pressure matchups.

Jake Sanderson and Shane Pinto handled the scoring for Ottawa, while Ridly Greig collected assists on both goals. The Senators played their second straight game without captain Brady Tkachuk, who remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

With both teams clinging to playoff ambitions and the regular season winding down, expect a tense, tight-checking affair in Ottawa. Florida will aim to rediscover its scoring form while continuing to integrate Marchand, and the Senators will look to build off their momentum and protect home ice.

Looking to place a bet on this must-win matchup? Get the latest edge with our expert NHL picks and predictions for Saturday’s action.